Roots (Country, Folk, Americana)

Cervantine’ is the fifth album from American indie-folk outfit A Hawk & A Hacksaw and their first for their own label LMDupli-cation after leaving their previous home The Leaf Label. Recorded at their studios in Albuquerque during a break in touring, the album once again sees the duo drawing influence from Eastern European folk while also bringing in elements of Spanish, Turkish and Mexican traditional music to the mix. The album also features key contributions from British siblings Chris and Stephanie Hladowski on vocals and bouzouki.

Mixing the heartfelt angst of a singer/songwriter with the cocky brashness of a garage rocker, Ryan Adams is at once one of the few artists to emerge from the alt-country scene to achieve mainstream commercial success and the one who most strongly refused to be defined by the genre, leaping from one spot to another stylistically while following his increasingly prolific muse.

On new album Prisoner, Ryan said: "I was reflecting on the different states of desire and what it means to be a prisoner of your own desire… I felt like I had been robbed of... the most valuable thing in a person’s life…Time."

Ryan Adams’ ’Ten Songs from Live at Carnegie Hall’ is comprised of live selections from Adams’ two night stint at the celebrated New York City venue. The career spanning set includes fan favorite ’New York, New York,’ plus new mainstays from Ryan’s most recent Grammy nominated eponymous album like ’Gimme Something Good’.

In 2007 Ryan Adams and the Cardinals entered Electric LandLady studios on 8th street in NYC and went in for a session intended to last two weeks. Six months and over 60 tracks later, they emerged with the album Easy Tiger. But it was only glimpse into the depth of the work the band had undertaken and the vast amount of material that was recorded.

As the sessions wound around into the deep winter months a double album emerged, a rock record that felt more like a hybrid of all the records that the band had mutually consumed as kids from influences as wide as Kiss and The Cars.

Originally hidden away in the vault while the band hit the road to support Easy Tiger, and now for the first time here in its entirety is the Cardinals second double-album concept rock opera about the 80’s, ninjas, cigarettes, sex and pizza. Enjoy Volume III/IV by Ryan Adams and The Cardinals, from the turning point in the classic line up of the band featuring Catherine Popper on bass (her last with the band), Neal Casal on guitar and vocals (his first with the band), Brad Pemberton on the drums, Jon Graboff on the Steel Guitar (as well as a few other things) and Jamie ‘The Candyman’ Candiloro on piano and synths, here producing again as well. A limited edition coloured double vinyl will also be released in the new year.

After a decade spent at the height of the music industry, touring solo and with large pop bands, Courtney Marie Andrews has realised her desire for a place to come home to. She found that in a small rural town in the deep forests of Washington. There, she posted up at a local bar, slinging drinks, basking in the simplicity and reflection it allowed. She has emerged with a new fire on Honest Life, melding indie-folk and Americana with a rebellious country flavour reminiscent of her Southwestern roots. Honest Life is the culmination of Andrews’ life on the road, absorbing the stories, traditions and heartbreaks along the way.

On ’Down The Way’ Angus & Julia Stone also make their debut as producers, and develop their sound without losing the spirit of their debut.
There’s been a subtle shift in gear; evidence of a growing confidence. The music gravitates from sparse to rich and textured arrangements, yet never loses its etherealness and charm.